Conveyer system



' P 1944. M. R. CHANDLER ETAL 2,357,875

CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed April 28, 1942 INVENTO/ES MEC/m/vmE/a FPS. McCA/wy 5 /A- ,6. M

Patented Sept. 12, 1944 CONVEYER SYSTEM Marshall R. Chandler, Downers Grove, and Paul S. McCann, La Grange; Ill., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York,

N. Y.. a corporation of New York Application April 28, 1942, Serial No. 440,816 5 Claims. ((71. 198-79) This invention relates to'conveyer systems, and more particularly to a conveyer system in which a plurality of tributary conveyers are arranged to deliver articles to a single receiving conveyer.

Objects of the invention are to provide in a conveyer system of the type referred to, simple, inexpensive, and efiicient mechanism for controlling the transfer of articles frSm the tributary conveyers to the receiving conveyer.

In accordance with one embodiment of the.

invention, there is provided a conveyer system in which two tributary conveyers are arranged to deliver articles to a single receiving conveyer.

Mechanism is provided for controlling the movement of articles along the tributary conveyers,

whereby the articles are delivered to the receiv-,

ing conveyer from only one tributary'conveyer at a time, and first from a selected one of the tributary conveyers until it is empty, except when the other tributary conveyer is filled with articles awaiting delivery to the main conveyer.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view, somewhat schematic, of a conveyer system embodying the invention; l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the electrical con trol system.

The conveyer system illustrated in the drawing comprises a main conveyer l and two tributary conveyers I I and I2 which are connected to the receiving end of the main conveyer and extend laterally therefrom. These conveyers may be of any well known type, those illustrated being of the endless belt type. The main conveyer comprises an endless belt M which is driven continuously between guide rails l5 and I6, and the tributary conveyers H and I2 comprise endless belts l1 and [8, respectively, which are driven continuously between a center guide rail 19 and outer guide rails 20 and 2 I, respectively. Suitable means (none shown) is provided for driving the,

several conveyer belts in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.

The two tributary conveyers are adapted to convey articles, such as load carriers 23, 23, from separate receiving stations (not shown) to the main conveyer I0 which delivers the load carriers to the desired destination. The load carriers may be of any suitable construction. Those illustrated each' comprises a rectangular hollow frame 24 which isprovided at each end with a circular heel plate 25. These heel plates cooperate with the side guide rails of the conveyers I to prevent lateral displacement of the load car riers on the conveyer belts. Also, the heel plates cooperate with a fixed deflector rail 2! to divert the carriers from thefltributary conveyers onto the main conveyer, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

, It will be noted that the heel plates are of sufficient thickness to permit the carrier frames 24 to pass freely over the top edges of the conveyer guide rails, which permits the relatively long carriers to. make sharp turns from the tributary conveyers onto the main conveyer.

Stop members 28 and 29 are provided near the discharge endsof tributary conveyers H and l2,. respectively. These stop members are adapted to ,y

be engaged by upstanding lugs or projections 36, 30 on the load carriers, whereby the carriers may be stopped without stopping the tributary conveyer belts. Each of the stop members is pivotally mounted upon a vertical shaft 3| and is yieldably held in its operative position against a fixed pin 33 by a coil spring 34. Stop member 28 is normally locked in" its operative position by the plunger of'a solenoid 35, and stop member 29 is similarly locked in its operative position by a solenoid 36.

rendered ineffective for preventing rotary movement of the stop members under the force of 7 moving carriers on the continuously moving tributary conveyer belts. However, when the solenoids are de-energized, their plungers are projected into the path of the stop members, whereby the stop members are locked in their operative positions and thus cooperate with the lugs,

36 on the carriers to stop the carriers from moving onto the main conveyer.

The energizing circuits of stop operating solenoids 35 and 36 are controlled by two relays 40 Relay 40 is controlled by a normally closed switch 42 which is mounted near.

and 4| (Fig. 3).

the receiving end of the main conveyer and is adapted to be opened by the carriers as they travel along the main conveyer. By means of a selector switch 44 in the energizing circuit of relay 4| this relay may be placed under the control of either-one or the other of two pairs of switches which are mounted along the tributary conveyers for operation by the moving carriers. One. of these pairs of switches comprises a normally closedswitch 46 and a normally open switch. 7 .41 connected in parallel with switch 46. Switch "46 is positioned near the discharge end of tribu- When these solenoids are energized, their plungers are retracted and thereby tary conveyer l2 and is adapted to be opened by l the frames 24 of carriers on conveyer belt l8 as they approach the main conveyer.

is adapted to be closed by the frames 24 of oar- 1 riers on conveyer belt H as they approach the main conveyer. Switch 49 is positioned near the receiving end of tributary" conveyer I2 and is adapted to be opened by carriers'tha't conveyer.

Electrical current for operating the above mentioned relays and solenoids is supplied by 7 line wires 5| and 52 (Fig. 3) which are connected I to a suitable electrical supply source (none shown). One endof the energizing winding 01 relay 4!] is connected to line wire 5| and its opposite end is connected to line wire 52' through the normally closed switch 42; The energizing windings of stop solenoids 35 and 36 are connected at one end to line wire 5| through a nor-,

mally closed contact 541 of relay 40 and also v through a resistance 55. The opposite end of the energizing'winding of stop solenoid 35 is connected to line wire 52 through a normally closed contact 56' of relay 4], and the opposite end of the energizing winding of stop solenoid 36 is adapted to be connected to line wire 52 through a normally open contact 51 of relay 4|. Theresistance 55 is of'such a value that it transmits sufiicient-holding current for the stop solenoids, but does not transmit suflicient current for operating the solenoids.

Intheoperation of the above described conveyer system, the selector switch 44 isoperated to close either one orfthe other of its contacts.

58. and 68, according to which one of the two tributary lconveyers is to receive preference over the other in deliveringlwork carriers to the main conveyer. 4 Assuming, for example, that tributary conveyer |2 is to receive preference over tributary conveyer M, then the selector switch is positioned so .as to close contact and open con-c tact 68,-asshown in Fig. 3. Relay 4| is now under the control .of normally closed switch 46 on tribu-c tarylconveyer l2 and. normally open switch 41 on tributary conveyer H. Thus, as long asthere areno work carriers onthe conveyer belts opposite switches 42 and 46, relay 40 will be energized through normally closed switch 42 and relay r4l 'wil-l be energized through normally closed switc-h46. 'With both relays pulled up, as shown in Fig. 3, anenergizingcircuit for stop solenoid 35 is established through closed relay contacts 54 and 56, while the energizing circuit of stop so]- enoid '36 is open through open relay contact 51. Therefore,- stop member 28 on tributary con- 28 on'tributary conveyer will becreleased by energized solenoid 35. Although the momentary opening of switch 42 by carriers moving along the main conveyer may momentarilydeenergize relay 4.8 and thereby momentarilyopen relay contact 54, stop solenoid 35, when energized, is maintained energized by holding current through resistance 55 .until relay contact 56 is opened by de-en'ergization of relay 4| through the opening of switch 46. Thus, until switch 46 is opened by a work carrier on tributary conveyer I2 zip-75.,

- H to be deliveredto the main conveyer.

proaching the main conveyer, stop 28 will be inefiective for stopping the delivery ofwork carriers from tributary conveyer H to main conveyer l8.

When a work carrier on tributary conveyer |2 approaches the main conveyer,its frame 24 opens switch 46 before its stop lug engages stop member29. The opening or switch 46, assuming that switch 41 is also open, de-energizes relay 4| so that its contact 56 is opened and its contact 51 jisclosed. This de-energizes stop solenoid and energizes stop solenoid 36, whereby solenoid 35 locksstop member 28 in its operative position and solenoidi36 releases stop member 29. Thus, stop member 28 1's now effective for stopping work carriers on tributary conveyer while stop member 29 allows carriers on tributary conveyer This condition prevails until either switch 46 on conveyer l2 or switch 41 on conveyer closes. Switch 46. closes only when there are no carriers opposite it on conveyer l2, andsw-itch 41 is closed by carriers when positioned opposite iton cone veyer The closing of. either switch 46- or switch 41' results in theenergization of relay- 4|,

which, in turn, de-energizes stop solenoid 36 and. energizes stop solenoid 35,. whereby stop'member:

latter conveyer. are now free to be delivered to Thus,. it. will .be apparent the main conveyer. that by closing contact 58 of selector switch 44,

tributaryconveyer I2" isgiven preference over conveyer II, that is, as long. as. there are car-f riers on conveyer I2 opposite. switch 46'- and the main, conveyer is not completely filled, carriers will be delivered to the main, conveyer by conveyer l2 only, unless switchv 41 is held closed by a carrier on conveyer H, in which case con-- veyer II only is permitted. to deliver carriers to the mainconveyer, but only until switch. 41 opens again. r

In order to give tributary conveyer pref erence over conveyer H, the selector switch 44 is operated so. as to open contact 58 and close contact 60. 7 Relay 4| is thus placed under the] control of normally open switch 48 and normally closed switch 49. These two switches are connected in series so that both switches must be closed in order to'complete the energizing circuit for relay 4|. Switch 48 is arranged to. be closed by carriers on conveyer H as they approach the main conveyer.. Thus, the presence of a carrier near the'discharge end of conveyer results in 1 the closing of switch 48, whereby relay 4| is en- 7 veyer |-2 will be locked in itsoperative position 7 by de-energized solenoid 36, while stop member ergized, providing of course that switch49 is also closed. The. energizationof relay 4| ener-- gizes stop solenoid 35 and de-energizesstop solenoid 36, whereby stop member 29 is rendered effective for stopping carriers on conveyer l2 and stop member 28 is rendered ineffective for stopping the delivery of carriers from conveyer H to the main conveyer.. This condition will prevail until either switch 48 or switch 49 opens. Switch 48 will open only when there are no carriers which, in turn,-de-energizes stop solenoid 35 and energizes stop solenoid 36, whereby carriers onopposite it on conveyer II, and switch 49 will be opened only when'a carrier is positioned opposite it on conveyer l2. The opening of either switch 48 or switch .49 de-energizes relay 4| conveyer. Thus, it will be apparent that by closing contact 60 of selector switch 44", tributary conveyer H is given preference over conveyer l2, that is, as long as there are carriers on conveyer opposite switch 48 and the main conveyer is not completely filled, carriers will be delivered to the main conveyer by conveyer I only, unless switch 49 is held open by acarrier on conveyer l2, in which case conveyer |2 only is permitted to deliver carriers to the main conveyer, but only until switch 49 opens again.

Although the momentary opening of normally closed switch 42 by carriers moving along the main conveyer will momentarily de-energize relay 40 and thereby momentarily open relay contact 54, as mentioned above, stop solenoid 35, when energized, is maintained energized by holding current through resistance 55 until relay contact 56 is opened by de-energization of relay 4| through the opening of switch 48 or switch 49. Likewise, stop solenoid 36, when energized, is maintained energized by holding current through resistance 55 until relay contact 51 is opened by energization of relay 4| through the closing of both switches 48 and 49. In other words, the momentary opening of switch 42 by carriers moving along the main conveyer does not cause de-energization of the stop solenoids.

Whenever movement of the carriers on the main conveyer is interrupted, for example, when the main conveyer becomes completely filled with carriers, the last carrier on the main conveyer serves as a stop for interrupting the movement of carriers on that tributary conveyer which was delivering carriers to the main conveyer at the time it became filled. In such instances, the stop member on the other tributary conveyer cannot be released or rendered ineil'ective because the energization of the associated stop solenoid (35 or 36) is prevented due to the fact that switch 42 is held open by the stalled last carrier on the main conveyer. As pointed out above, resistance 55 does not transmit sufficient current to actuate the stop solenoids.

Relay 40 is of the retarded or slow operating type, so that a predetermined time interval is provided between the closing of switch 42 and the closing of relay contact 54. This time interval delays the release of carriers on either one of the tributary conveyers, and thereby prevents such carriers from colliding with previously released carriers on the other tributary conveyer.

Switches 41 and 49 are positioned near the receiving ends of the tributary conveyers and are operated by the frames 24 of the carriers. As hereinbefore described, these switches together with switches 46 and 48 control relay 4| which, in turn, controls stop solenoids 35 and 36. Relay 4| is of the retarded or slow operating type and, therefore, it is not affected by the momentary operation of the aforementioned control switches by passing carriers. In other words, the operation of relay 4| to shift the delivery of carriers from one tributary conveyer to the other requires that control switch 41 or control switch 49 be held in its operated position a predetermined length of time by a carrier whose movement has been interrupted because the conveyer upon which it is placed is completely filled with stalled carriers.

Any suitable means, such as a double dash pct 65 (Fig. 3), may be provided on relay 4| to retard the closing of contacts 56 and 51 and thus delay the release of carriers on either one of the time to avoid their collision with previously released carriers on the other tributary conveyer.

his to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof herein illustrated and vdescribed, but is capable of other applications within the scope of the appended claims. What is claimed is:

l. A conveyer system comprising a receiving conveyer, a plurality of tributary conveyers, means responsive to articles on the conveyers for causing delivery from one of said tributary conveyers to said receiving conveyer until a predetermined number of articles are accumulated on a second tributary conveyer, and means responsive to articles on the conveyers'for then stopping delivery of articles from said first tributary conveyer and causing delivery from said second tributary conveyer until the number of articles on said second tributar conveyer has been reduced below a predetermined amount.

2. A conveyer system comprising a receiving conveyer, a plurality of tributary conveyers, means responsive to articles on a first tributary conveyer for causing the first tributary conveyer to deliver articles to the receiving conveyer, means responsive to articles on the first tributary conveyer and on a second tributary conveyer for causing the second tributary conveyer to deliver articles to the receiving conveyer when the articles on said first conveyer become exhausted, and means responsive to articles on the first tributary conveyer for causing said first tributary conveyer to resume delivery of articles when it is again supplied with articles.

3. A conveyer sys tem:-comprising a receiving conveyer, a plurality of tributary conveyers,

means responsive to articles on a first tributary conveyer for causing the first tributary conveyer to deliver articles to the receiving conveyer, means responsive to articles on the first tributary conveyer and on a second tributary conveyer for causing the second tributary conveyer to deliver articles to the receiving conveyer when the articles on said first conveyer become, exhausted, means responsive to articles on said first tributary conveyer for causing said first tributary conveyer to resume delivery of articles when it is again supplied with articles, and means responsive to articles on the second tributary conveyer for preventing said first tributary conv yer from resuming delivery of articles when said second conveyer is supplied with a predetermined large number of articles.

4. A conveyer system comprising a receiving conveyer, a plurality of tributary conveyers for delivering articles to said receiving conveyer, means responsive to articles on one of said tributary conveyers for giving preference to said one of said tributary conveyers in delivering articles to the receiving conveyer, means responsive to articles on one of said tributary conveyers for shifting preference to another of said tributary conveyers in response to predetermined conditions, and means settable for selecting any one of said tributary conveyers for preferred delivery while another tributary conveyer is rendered effective to assume delivery under control of ar-, ticles on the two tributary conveyers.

5. A conveyer system comprising a receiving conveyer, a plurality of tributary conveyers for delivering articles to said receiving conveyer, a releasable stop on each of said tributary conveyers for stopping the delivery of articles therefrom, an electromagnetic releasing means for each of said stops, a switch settable for causing the operation of one of said releasing means to give preference to one of said tributary conveyers i delivering articles to said receiving conveyer, a switch operable by articles on a, second tributary conveyer for shifting preference thereto under predetermined conditions, a second switch actuated by articles moving along said 5 said electromagnetic stop releasing means.

MARSHALL R. CHANDLER. PAUL S. MCCANN. 

